The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-02

"Hurrah for our old things. and for
the old folks" cried Ned, swinging his
handkerchief round his head.
"What shall we do to amu>e them at
the party?" inquired Grace. They
won't want to play games aud things,
like children"
1.-THE best entertainment wo can give
them will be to allow them to entertain
us, replied Mr.. Lyndon. 'Old people
love to tell of the old times"
In due time Mrs. Lyndon, taking
with her Grace and Ned. went to in.
vitc the guests. All were surprised by
the invitation, and all were grateful.
In due time. also, Thanksgiving day
arrived, and with it the old folks.
After the abundant dinner was fin
ished, the picturesque party assembled
in Mr. Lyndon library. Some of the
company wore new gowns, plain and
unrufllcd, and some old ones as neat
rs soap and water and wcll-put patches
could make them. The men made
show of clean boots, and some of new
clothes.
Gathered around the open fireplace,
old tongues, II little cold and slow ut
first, thawcd out, and grew timber and
lively. AT one side of the CRATE sat the
crippled Mrs. Jones. her crutches
standing near her in corner. her
lame feet on the fender. She talked
of her young days in the old country,
when she was well and strong, and
used to spin and weave all the clothes
she wore. Opposite her, ut the other
end Of the fender, sat Granny Gray,
the candy-scller.
The women having led the way. the
men gained courage, and began to
take their part, telling many entertain
ing things about the old times.
Uncle jim Mccall Strengthened up
his bent back as well as he could, put
his spectacles on the top of his bald
head, that was fringcd round with soft,
Silvcry hair. "Whcn | was young
said he, Il lived in small town on
the Hudson River remember the
first steamboat that came from New
York. For some time before, every
body was talking of the steamboat,
and wondering how it would look. On
the day fixed for its arrival, all the
people in our town. and from the towns
and farms near. crowded 10 the spot
where the steamboat was to stop As
it approached, its wheels rolling
through the water. the cheers that
went up frten that crowd were enough
to brighten out of their wits the
horses on the ground and the birds i'll
the air.
"Do YOU remember your first ride on
steamboat, Uncle Jim?' asked
Grace.
ooh. yes! my wee lady. | rode
thirty miles to n landing where it
stopped. From that | walked back
home, catching short rides when |
could
He was kinder to me than TO his
SELF" said his aged sister Peggy. "He
gave me Il ride to place where We
had kim and stayed with them till
the boat came back again. He is Il
guide brother. There could nae be
better" Then she added, in u tender
whisper bending towards Mrs Lyn-
don: when our father and mother
had died. and | was feeble and sickly,
he would nae leave me. nor get mar
ricd. He said he'd never have much
worldly goods, and he'd take care o
me till the day o my death, if he lived
the longest
'Grandpa DOanc, won't you tell us
something about the old tlmes?' asked
Ned.
The wondcrfullcst thing | ever saw
though, to be- sure. it wasn't very,
very long time back-was the first
train of cars that passed by where l
lived. We lived on Il farm far back in
the country. There wasn't but one
house in sight from ours. We heard n
great deal of talk about the new way
of travelling. I'd seed men laying
| rails Of iron near our farm; but L
| hadn't the least idea how train Of
cars looked. was wOrkin' in field
one dav. Not far from it was long.
high hill, and strip of dark, thick
woods All of sudden a long row OF
coaches hitchcd together came a-whirl-
ing round the foot of the hill. and past
the woods. making great, rushing
sound that wasn't like the wind, nor
like any other sound I'd ever heard be-
fore. / leaned on my hoe and gazed
/
till saw the last Of that train. The
cattle tore away as if they were dis
tracted."
How did you feel. Grandpa Doone,
the first time YOU were on board a